Brush cleaner and dryer



Feb. 11, 1958 A. TORKELSON 2,822,814

BRUSH CLEANER AND DRYER Filed June 26, 1956 INVENTOR ALFRED TORKELSON United States Patent ce BRUSH CLEANER AND DRYER Alfred Torkelson, Grand Forks, N. Dak. Application June 26, 1956, Serial No. 594,002 4 Claims. (Cl. 134-135) This invention relates to paint brush cleaners and dryers.

More paint brushes are ruined by improper cleaning than by using them to spread paint. The majority of decorators clean their brushes by dipping them in a pail of solvent whereupon they are removed and struck against an object such as a sidewalk or the like. This method suffers from the disadvantages in that it is messy and also ruins the brush.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a brush cleaner and dryer which will eliminate the above disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a brush cleaner and dryer of the above type which is light in weight and portable and which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a paint brush cleaner and dryer bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, has a ready portability and is efiicient in use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in operative use for drying the paint brush;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof shown partly in section and showing the device in the open position for removing the paint brush;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view shown partly in elevation of the bearing assembly at the upper end of the device and Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, represents a hollow cylindrical container open at the top and which is hingeably connected to a second hollow cylindrical container 11 open at the bottom and closed at the top, by means of the hinge 12. Suitable means will be provided for locking the container 11 in a releasable manner on top of the container 10 the lower end of the container 11 fitting snugly within the open upper end of the container 10 so as to provide an air tight fit. Suitable solvent, of any type, will be provided in the lower portion of the container 10 for cleaning the paint brush 13.

As shown in Fig. 3, a bearing member 14 is mounted on the top wall 15 of the container 11 at the center thereof by means of the peripheral flange 16 and the nut and bolt assembly 17, the top wall 15 having a circular opening 18 aligned with the opening in the bearing member 14.

An elongated shaft 19 is slidably and rotatably mounted within the bearing member 14 and is provided at its lower end with the hollow or open ended sleeve 20 which may be tightened about the paint brush handle by means 2,822,814 Patented Feb. 11, 1958 2 of the lugs 21 and the nut and bolt assembly 22, the sleeve 20 being split.

A knob 23 is fixedly secured to the upper end of the shaft 19 to facilitate the adjustment of the same, as will hereinafter become clear.

A washer 24 (Fig. 3) is positioned on the shaft 19 on the top of the bearing member 14, and supports thereon a sleeve 25 which receives the shaft 19 therethrough in freely spaced relationship, the sleeve 25 its lower end fixedly carrying a V-pulley 26. A set screw 27 is screw threaded through the upper end of the sleeve 25 and is adapted to lock the shaft 19 to the sleeve at any desired elevation, of the former.

A handle 28 is suitably mounted at the top of the container 11 at one side and is provided with the elongated slot 29. A shaft is provided adjustable longitudinally within the slot 29 by means of the nut 30 screw threaded onto the lower end thereof.

A relatively large V-pulley 31 is journalled on the shaft above the handle 28 and is connected to the V- pulley 26 by means of the V-belt 32. A crank handle 33 is fixedly connected to the V-belt 31 by means of the collar 34 and provides a means of rotating the V-belt 32. Alternately, an electric motor may be provided for the same purpose. A washer 35 of greater diameter than the slot 29 is positioned intermediate the nut 30 and the handle 28.

When the container 11 is positioned on the container 10, as shown in Fig. 1, the solvent will be enclosed in an airtight manner so as to reduce fire hazard. The crank 33 may then be rotated to revolve the V-belt 32 and V-pulley 26 whereby to rotate the shaft 19 and therewith the brush 13 within the solvent when the shaft is locked relative to the sleeve 25 in the position of Figs. 1 and 3. After the brush has been cleaned, the shaft 19 is raised by loosening the set screw 27 to a position shown in outline in Fig. 3, being locked in this position by again tightening set screw 27. The brush is then suspended above the solvent and upon further rotation of the rod 19 by means of the crank 33, the brush "will be dried within the closed containers. After drying the paint brush is removed from the sleeve 20 by means of the nut and bolt assembly 22 to provide a clean and dry paint brush without messiness.

The device may be made of plastic or light aluminum, and all moving parts are on the outside so that they can be easily replaced or cleaned. The parts are few and simple but when constructed in the unit are able to operate efficiently to clean and dry the brush without messiness. The device could be marketed for about half the price of a good paint brush.

The belt 32 may be tightened by adjusting the pulley 31 relative to the handle, as will be obvious. 7

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters rotatably mounted within said bearing member, the top wall of said second container having an opening receivingsaid shaft therethrough, a sleeve positioned on said' shaft above said 'bearinggmember, set screw means carried by said sleeve for locking the same to ,said shaft at any desired position of the latter, stop means at the upper end of said shaft for limiting its displacement downwardly-through said'sleeve and to facilitate the raising and lowering of the same to permit insertion and motion of a paint brush attached to the lower ,end of said shaft within said first container, and means for rotating said sleeve whereby to rotate said shaft within the closed receptacle with solvent disposed in the first container and means at the lower end of said shaft for fixedly holding in a removable manner the handle of a paint brush.

2. A paint brush cleaner and dryer according to claim 1, said means for rotating said shaft comprising a first v -pulley secured to said sleeve, a washer intermediate said V-pulley and the upper end of said bearingmember, a handle mounted at one side of said second container at the top thereof and having a horizontal portion having an elongated slot, a shaft adjustable within said slot by means of a nut screw threaded onto one end thereof, a second relatively larger V-pulley journalled on said shaft above said handle, a V-belt connecting said first and second V-pulley and a crank arm fixedly connected to said second V-pulley.

' 3. A paintbrush cleaner and dryer according to claim 2, said second container at the open lower end thereof being snugly received within the open upper end of said first container in an airtight manner and releasable means for securing said containers in closed relationship.

4. A paint brush cleaner and dryer according to claim 3, said means for mounting the paint brush handle comprising a hollow, open ended sleeve secured to the lower end of said shaft, said sleeve being split and being formed with laterally spaced lugs, and nut and bolt assembly means within said lugs .for tightening said sleeve about the handle of the paint brush.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 345,380 Graves July 13, 1886 2,060,277 Butts Nov. 10, 1936 2,239,741 Schroder Apr. 29, 1941 2,449,818 Olsen Sept. 21, 1948 2,566,819 Baltsois Sept. 4, 1951 2,592,729 Pennell Apr. 15, 1952 2,756,455 Slaughter July 31, 1956 

